§FMCSR.com
Historical textIn force on Oct. 1, 2008Source: annual CFR editions 1996–2010

§ 383.133 Testing methods.

Wording first on file in the 1996 annual edition, superseded by the 2011 annual edition.

govinfo, 2008 edition ↗
Before Jan. 1, 2017 the record is one snapshot per annual CFR edition, revised as of October 1. This is the 2008 edition's wording. An amendment that took effect between Oct. 1, 2008 and Oct. 1, 2008 would not appear until the next edition, so check the citations below and the Federal Register for exact effective dates.
49 CFR § 383.133 — Testing methods.. Text in force on October 1, 2008. This wording effective October 1, 1996 to October 1, 2011. Source: govinfo, 2008 edition, https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR-2008-title49-vol5/CFR-2008-title49-vol5-sec383-133. Retrieved from FMCSR.com, https://fmcsr.com/reg/383.133?asof=2008-10-01, on October 26, 2026. Unofficial compilation; verify against the official source.

(a) All tests shall be constructed in such a way as to determine if the applicant possesses the required knowledge and skills contained in subpart G of this part for the type of motor vehicle or endorsement the applicant wishes to obtain.

(b) States shall develop their own specifications for the tests for each vehicle group and endorsement which must be at least as stringent as the Federal standards.

(c) States shall determine specific methods for scoring the knowledge and skills tests.

(d) Passing scores must meet those standards contained in § 383.135.

(e) Knowledge and skills tests shall be based solely on the information contained in the driver manuals referred to in § 383.131(a).

(f) Each knowledge test shall be valid and reliable so as to assure that driver applicants possess the knowledge required under § 383.111.

(g) Each basic knowledge test, i.e., the test covering the areas referred to in § 383.111 for the applicable vehicle group, shall contain at least 30 items, exclusive of the number of items testing air brake knowledge. Each endorsement knowledge test, and the air brake component of the basic knowledge test as described in § 383.111(g), shall contain a number of questions that is sufficient to test the driver applicant's knowledge of the required subject matter with validity and reliability.

(h) The skills tests shall have administrative procedures, designed to achieve interexaminer reliability, that are sufficient to ensure fairness of pass/fail rates.

Amendment history

3 distinct wordings on file since Oct. 1, 1996
  1. Jan. 1, 2017 → presenteCFR, day-precisediff vs. previous
    [76 FR 26891, May 9, 2011, as amended at 81 FR 68347, Oct. 4, 2016]
  2. Oct. 1, 2011 → Jan. 1, 2017annual editions 2011–2016diff vs. previous
    [76 FR 26891, May 9, 2011]
  3. Oct. 1, 1996 → Oct. 1, 2011annual editions 1996–2010viewing

A new entry appears whenever the regulatory words change between government snapshots. Day-precise from the eCFR (2017 onward); before that, one snapshot per annual CFR edition (revised as of October 1). Bracketed citations are the Federal Register history printed with the section.